Rail fence



R. L. NELSON ETAL Dec. 30, 1969 RAIL FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov.18, 1968 Dec. 30, 1 969 I R. L. NELSON ETAL 3,486,739

' RAIL FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 18, 1968 INVENTOR.

ROBERT L. NELSON BY SUSAN JANENELSON United States Patent US. Cl. 256654 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises a pluralityof pairs of fence posts arranged in pairs in linearly spacedrelationship; each of said pairs of fence posts being supported at theirbottoms in cement-filled fence post holes and being aligned alongsideone another in transversely spaced relationship, a double-saddle clampremova'bly secured to and spanning each pair of said plurality of pairsof fence posts adjacent to the tops thereof for retaining said postsagainst displacement, a plurality of rail-holding sleeves pivotallymounted on each pair of postsin vertically spaced relationship in thetransverse space therebetween, and tubular rails slidably mounted on butsnugly fitting each of said sleeves and extending linearly betweensuccessive pairs of said fence posts.

This invention in a rail fence for enclosing any given area of land,such as a horse corral or a series of horse corrals, comprises aplurality of laterally spaced pairs of metal tubular fence posts ofcircular cross-section presenting smooth, uninterrupted or unobstructedexterior surfaces and supported in fixed upright positions linearlyspaced apart in laterally spaced pairs, each of said fence posts havinga series of openings therein in spaced relation to one another fromadjacent the top to adjacent the bottom thereof, said openings beingarranged in opposed pairs in respect to each of the pairs of laterallyspaced posts with their inlets facing the space between the pairs oflaterally spaced posts, together with a plurality of rail-holdingsleeves, pivot pins on opposite sides of each of said sleeves extendinginto opposed pairs of openings at a plurality of levels in said posts tofreely mount said rail-holding sleeves for pivotal movement on andbetween said pairs of posts from the horizontal to an inclination ofapproximately 80 degrees from the horizontal thereby permitting theerection of the fence on both level and inclined terrain, and pipe railsmounted in said sleeves and extending linearly between successive pairsof fence posts.

The invention, in general, relates to fence construction and moreparticularly relates to a permanent rail fence having all of itscomponents except the rails prefabricated and united together for readyerection on level and inclined terrain by simple placement of the rails.

Heretofore in the art, rail fences have largely been constructed ofWooden posts and wooden rails which require frequent mending orreplacement of portions thereof or complete rebuilding because of damagethereto from the elements or animals confined within a fenced area. Insome fenced areas (see US. Letters Patent, No. 348,383), iron posts andiron rails in picket form have been employed; such iron rails being ofrelatively thin cross-section and therefore easily bent or broken.Recently, there has been placed on the market a metal fence employingconnected tubular posts which are of inverted U-shape together with piperails slidably mounted in rings which are welded to the double posts,all as described and claimed in US. Letters Patent, No. 3,285,576. Thepresent invention is directed to an improved all metal post obviatingall of the disadvantages of prior rail fences and capable of indefiniteuse and no maintenance costs.

3,486,739 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 ice A primary object of our presentinvention is to provide an improved rail fence capable of being almostentirely prefabricated and assembled at a central plant r installationin concrete and erection 'by simple mounting of the steel pipe rails atany location remote from such central plants.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide animproved rail fence of the indicated nature which is additionallycharacterized by its capability of being erected on both level andinclined terrain.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an improved railfence of the aforementioned character which can be pre-fabricated andassembled, as Well as installedand erected at a minimum of cost andwhich requires only a nominal, at most, of maintenance expense.

Other objects of our invention, together with some of the advantageousfeatures thereof, will appear from the following description of apreferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that we are notto be limited to the precise embodiment illustrated nor to the precisearrangement of the components thereof, as our invention, as defined inthe appended claims, can be embodied in a plurality and variety offorms.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of some of the principal componentsof a preferred embodiment of our invention in an all metal rail fence;these portable components being pre-fabricated assembled and united in acentral plant for ready installation.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view, partly in section, of themajority of the components shown in FIG. 1; this view illustrating theerection of one pair of posts in a concrete foundation as Well as theremoval of the lower double-saddle clamp component.

FIG. 3 is a view partly in section, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another view, partly in section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG.2.

FIG. 5 is a broken longitudinal perspective view of a rail fenceembodying our present invention and illustrating the installation onlevel and variable inclined terrain.

FIG. 6 is a broken sectional elevational view of one of the metal postsillustrating the top closure or cap component for the posts.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the top closure or cap componentemployed in the preferred embodiment of our invention.

In its preferred form, the rail fence of our present inventionpreferably comprises a plurality of pairs of tubular metal postsarranged alongside one another in spaced apart pairs and supported inupright position in a concrete foundation, double-saddle clampsremovably spanning each pair of posts for retaining the same againstspaced apart displacement, together with a plurality of rail-holdingsleeves pivotally mounted on each pair of spaced apart posts invertically spaced relationship to one another, and pipe rails slidablymounted in said sleeves and extending linearly between successive pairsof posts for an indeterminate length of fence.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, we provide as principal integral or unitedpost components of the preferred embodiment of our improved metal railfence, a plurality of pairs of tubular posts 11 and 12 which arearranged alongside of one another and held in opposed spacedrelationship by a pair of top double saddle-clamps generally designatedby the reference numerals 13 and 14, and a pair of bottom clamps 13' and14, as well as a plurality of rail-holding sleeves, designated generallyby the reference numeral 16, which are arranged in vertically spacedrelationship to one another, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and2 of the annexed drawings, and which are pivotally mounted on suitablepivot pins 17. These components comprising the tubular posts 11 and 12which, of course are made to the heights desired, together with thedouble saddle clamps 13, 14 and 13', 14, are all pre-fabricated andassembled and united together as a unit at a central plant and can betransported as units to the location where the rail fence of ourimproved invention is to be erected. It may be observed here that thesaddle clamps 13, 14 and 13, 14 are removably mounted by means of ascrew-bolt 18 which pierces the webs 19 of the saddle-clamps which aretightened into operative positions by turning down a nut 20 its fullestextent upon the threaded portion of the bolt 19 to bear against theouter surface of the saddle-clamps 13, 13' and thus drawing up the boltso that its head 21 bears against the outer surface of the saddle clamps14, 14'. Each of the two saddle-clamps 13, 14, 13', 14' is so fashionedthat their outer ends 22, which merge with the webs 19 thereof, arearcuately formed so as to partially surround the peripheries of thetubular posts 11 and 12 at the top and bottom thereof. The two sectionsof each double saddle clamp are complementary to one another and arefitted to the tubular uprights or posts at the front and back thereof sothat the arcuate extremities of the clamps engage the posts almostcompletely circumferentially thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, we provide in the transversespace 23 between each pair of posts 11 and 12 a plurality ofrail-holding sleeves 16 which are welded, as at 25, or otherwisesecurely fastened at diametrically opposite points to pivot pins 26 and27 extending into opposite tubular fence posts 11 and 12, respectively,through openings 28 and 29 fashioned in such posts 11 and 12,respectively. As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanyingdrawings, the sleeves 16 are pivotally mounted by means of pivot pins 26and 27 at vertically spaced intervals from adjacent to the top of theposts to adjacent the ground level allowing approximately two feet ofthe connected posts 11 and 12 for penetration and setting in post holesfilled with concrete 30. With all of the foregoing parts assembled andunited together, all as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, theassembly of pairs of posts 11 and 12, in the quantities required forerection of a rail fence of predetermined height and length, is taken tothe site of the fence in readiness for installations of each of thepairs of posts 11 and 12. Prior to disposing each pair of posts in thepoured concrete 30, the lower double-saddles 13' and 14 are removed fromeach of the joined pairs of posts 11 and 12 for subsequent use at theassembly plant.

In addition to transporting to the site of the fence the aforesaidassembled and united components including the posts 11 and 12, thedouble-saddles 13 and 14, and the pivotally mounted rail-carryingsleeves, we take along the required number of lengths of pipesconstituting the metal rails 31 of the improved fence of our invention.The rails 31 usually are fabricated in 21 foot to 24 foot lengths andthey are individually slidably mounted in each of the pivotally mountedsleeves 16 so as to extend linearly between each erected pair of posts11 and 12 which normally are spaced approximately 10 feet apart. Asillustrated particularly in FIG. 5 of the annexed drawings, the tubularmetal rails 31 can be disposed in planes parallel to the ground or alllevel horizontally as depicted in fragmentary showing at the extremeleft of FIG. 5. Or, as shown in the remainder of the view of FIG. 5, therails can be disposed at an inclination to the horizontal and thus,while the plurality of rails in both instances are in parallelrelationship to one another, the rail fence can readily be erected andcan follow an irregular terrain where both level and inclined or slopingground is encountered. This disposition of the rails and the erection ofour improved all metal rail fence on terrain of irregular contour is dueto our feature of mounting all of the rail-holding sleeves 16 on pivotsso that each of such sleeves pivots on its own axis. This pivotalconstruction permits the erection of our improved rail fence on even aneighty degree grade. Once the rails 31 have been slidably fitted andmounted in operative positions fitting the sleeves 16 snugly, anyportions of the rails less than the distance between linearly adjacentposts 11 and 12 can be fitted into auxiliary connector sleeves orcollars 32 which serve to join together in axial extensions otherportions of the rails extending beyond the pairs of posts 11 and 12, allas illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. Once the plurality of rails 31have been mounted, suitable metal set-screws 33 can be tightened downagainst the periphery of each such rail at the posts of the fence, seeFIG. 5.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, we have illustrated a removable topfitting closure 36for each of the tubular fence posts 11 and 12. As shown, each closure 36is formed with a head 37 thereon which is equal to or slightly greaterin diameter than the diameter of the tubular posts 11 and 12 so thatwhen placed on the tops thereof the head 37 of the closure 36 will holdit in position on the tops of the fence posts to prevent rain, snow orother moisture from entering within the posts and thus avoiding rust orother oxidation. Each closure 36 is provided with integral dependingvanes 38, 39 and 40 which bear against the inner wall of the posts 11and 12 and retain the closure against displacement.

We preferably fabricate the tubular posts 11 and 12 as well as therail-holding sleeves 16 and the doublesaddle clamps 13, 14 and 13, 14 aswell as also the pipe rails of steel or of galvanized iron in order toprotect the same against rust or other deterioration. Likewise, thesmaller components consisting of the pivot pins 17 on which the sleeves16 are mounted by means of welding, as well as the top closures 36 forthe fence posts, are all fabricated of galvanized iron. Further, allbolts and screws employed are galvanized metal.

We claim:

1. A rail fence comprising a plurality of pairs of tubular metal postsof circular cross-sections arranged along side one another in laterallyspaced apart pairs and supported in linearly spaced relation in concretefoundations; said posts presenting smooth unobstructed exteriorsurfaces, means spanning each pair of said posts for retaining the sameagainst spaced apart displacement, a plurality of rail-holding sleevespivotally mounted directly on each pair of said plurality of laterallyspaced apart posts in vertically spaced relationship to one another forfree pivotal movement within the space between each said pair of posts,and pipe rails slidable mounted in said sleeves and extending linearlybetween successive pairs of said plurality of tubular metal posts.

2. A rail fence as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of pivot pinsextend from opposite sides of each of said plurality of saidrail-holding sleeves and partially into each post of said plurality ofpairs of laterally spaced posts to effect free pivotal mounting of saidsleeves in the spaces between each pair of laterally spaced postswhereby each sleeve is freely pivoted on its own axis between thehorizontal and an inclination of approximately eighty degrees from thehorizontal so that the fence can be erected on both level and inclinedterrain.

3. A rail fence as defined in claim 1 wherein said means comprisesdouble-saddle clamps for rigidly holding said tubular posts againstspaced apart displacement each consisting of complementary sectionscontaining opposed flat webs arranged in spaced relationship to oneanother; each of said webs having a hole therethrough at approximatelyits longitudinal center located in the spaces between each of said pairof laterally spaced apart posts, and opposed arcuate ends merging withsaid webs and partially encircling said posts of each of said pair oflaterally spaced posts, and a screw-bolt extending through said holes ofsaid webs to effect the clamping together of said complementary sectionson each pair of said posts.

4. A rail fence for enclosing an area of land such as a horse corral;said rail fence comprising a plurality of laterally spaced apart metaltubular fence posts of circular cross-section presenting smooth,unobstructed exterior surfaces and supported in fixed upright positionsin linearly spaced apart relation; each of said fence posts having aseries of openings therein in spaced apart relationship to oneanother-{from adjacent the top thereof to adjacent the bottom thereof,said openings being arranged in opposed pairs in respect to each of thepairs of laterally spaced apart posts with their inlets facing the spacebetween each of the pairs of laterally spaced apart posts, a pluralityof rail-holding sleeves each having an annular opening therethr'jough, apivot pin on each side of each of said sleeves extending partially intosaid posts through the inlets of each of said pairs of opposed openingsin said lateral spaced apart pairs of posts to freely pivotally mounteach of said sleeves at a plurality of levels on said fence posts in thespaces between each 6 pair of said laterally spaced apart posts topermit pivotal movement of said rail-holding sleeves from the horizontalto an inclinationifrom the horizontal of approximately eighty degrees,and pipe rails mounted in the annular openings of said sleeves andextending linearly between successive pairs of fence posts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,383 8/1886 Cummings 256-59 X776,968 12/1904 Vestal 256-59 1,154,625 9/ 1915 Gutenkunst 25 6-683,002,493 10/1961 Galamba 256-59 X 3,285,576 11/1966 Clark 256-65 XFOREIGN PATENTS 273,893 6/ 1951 Switzerland.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner

